Qualifications of safety professionals in the U.S. construction industry

Industry standards vary when hiring a safety professional for the commercial construction industry. Commercial construction companies consider national certifications, professional experience, field experience, and educational credentials when considering viable candidates for construction safety positions. This paper presents the finding of a study conducted to identify qualifications needed for construction safety professionals. Quantitative and qualitative data collected from U.S. commercial construction companies were analyzed to determine the qualifications needed for construction safety positions and establish consistency of value placed on the identified qualifications. Findings of the study improve understanding of the needed qualifications of construction safety professionals and can lead to more effective construction safety education through enhanced training methods and procedures.